Category: Computer Security Software
Upgrade to Windows 10 stalled at 99%
Photo courtesy of https://85ideas.com/freebies/best-hd-windows-wallpapers-for-your-desktop/
I tried to Upgrade a desktop to Windows 10 from Windows 7. It continued until it hit 99% complete and stayed there. Rebooted and tried again and got the same result.
Checked on the internet and a Microsoft site suggested to uninstall all your Security software – Antivirus and Firewall as these may be preventing the completion.
Another non-Microsoft site suggested to disable Windows 7 updates (in control panel). I did that but it seems that the upgrade would never have gotten to 99%, if the Windows 7 Updates were the problem. I suspect that it was the Security Software was conflicting with the Windows 10 security software.
So I disabled Windows 7 updates. I uninstalled the firewall. I uninstalled the Antivirus. Restarted the Windows 10 upgrade. It worked.
There is also apparently a way to do the upgrade with a Windows 10 disk – via an ISO file download. I did not try that because if you mess up and end up doing a “clean install”, you may not get a “free” upgrade.
As for security, Windows 10 installs it’s own security software. I will check into how good it is and will probably install my own selected software.
Note, before you do the upgrade make sure that you have a backup or an image backup of your Windows 7 in case things go very wrong with the Windows 10 Upgrade. I used a free software program called System GoBack Free from Easeus. Click on this link to visit their web page.
Note that the free Upgrade to Windows 10 offer expires on July 29 2016. Click on this link to visit Microsoft’s website for more details about the Windows 10 Upgrade.
Hope this helps.
NOTE: I will shortly post about improving the Privacy of the Windows 10 install.
Posted by: Vincent Banial
http://www.uniquelytoronto.com
Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always do your Due Diligence and refer to the official Microsoft sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice. What worked for me does not guarantee that it will work for you
Norton Security Premium – 10 Devices [Download Code] Amazon Deal of the Day Jun 20 2016
UPDATE June 21 2016 – This Amazon Deal of the Day has expired. Was valid only on June 20 2016
For our American USA based visitors, the Amazon Deal of the Day for June 20 is:
Norton Security Premium – 10 Devices [Download Code] priced at $27.99 or 69% discount on June 20 2016 only
Deal only valid on June 20 2016. Deal only valid for residents of the US. Sorry Canadians. Click on this link to visit the amazon.com site for this their Deal of the Day
Norton make decent Security Software. The Norton deal is for 10 devices, that includes laptops and Desktop PC (MAC and Windows based), Cell Phones, Tablets.
Installing a security package on your Cell phone or internet connected Tablet is a smart move, especially for Windows users. Mac Operating systems are a growing target, but no where near how much Windows is targeted.
The deal ends today June 20 and is only valid for US residents.
Uniquely Toronto saves you money…
Posted by: Vincent Banial
http://www.uniquelytoronto.com
Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official http://www.amazon.com website to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice. Any offers mentioned in this post are also subject to change without notice.
New Apple OS X Ransomware discovered by “Unit 42” of Palo Alto Networks
A new Ransomware targeting Apple OS X based computers has been found and reported by Palo Alto Networks. Their Unit 42 Security Group have named this new ransomware as “KeRanger”.
Two installers of the Transmission BitTorrent ailient installer for OS X were found by Palo Alto Networks to be infected with KeRanger Ransomware.
The following is a quote from the Palo Alto Networks Reseaarch Center blog:
“Palo Alto Networks reported the ransomware issue to the Transmission Project and to Apple on March 4. Apple has since revoked the abused certificate and updated XProtect antivirus signature, and Transmission Project has removed the malicious installers from its website.
The Transmissionbt.com home page features the following security notice:
Read Immediately!!!!
Everyone running 2.90 on OS X should immediately upgrade to and run 2.92, as they may have downloaded a malware-infected file. This new version will make sure that the “OSX.KeRanger.A” ransomware (more information available here) is correctly removed from your computer.
Users of 2.91 should also immediately upgrade to and run 2.92. Even though 2.91 was never infected, it did not automatically remove the malware-infected file.
Click on this link to view other CyberSecurity related posts found on Uniquely Toronto.
Posted by: Vincent Banial
www.uniquelytoronto.com
Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice. Any offers mentioned in this post are also subject to change without notice.
Apple withdraws China Apps for the Apple App Store, after XcodeGhost Malware infected IOS Apps were found by CyberSecurity firm Palo Alto Networks.
Ryan Olson, Intelligence Director, with Cyber Security Firm Palo Alto Networks discusses the finding of Apps on Apple’s App Store which were infected by XcodeGhost Malware.
Ryan Olson states that this is an important issue for every Apple IOS user.
If you had downloaded an infected app, one solution might be to then download an “updated” version as it becomes available on Apple’s App Store.
Video is courtesy of the Associated Press YouTube Channel
Click on this link to view other CyberSecurity related posts found on Uniquely Toronto.
Posted by: Vincent Banial
http://www.uniquelytoronto.com
Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice.
CryptoLocker ransomware variant hits Police departments in midcoast and northern Maine
CryptoLocker gained fame and fortune for the people behind it. It also spawned a growing number of variants, which can supposedly be found on the DarkNet via the Tor Onion network.
Talk Security Podcast: discusses “Dark Hotel” and “WireLurker” which targeted Apple IOS and OSX based products
Superfish, was preinstalled (starting Sept 2014) by Lenovo on a number of their consumer laptops, is detected as being Adware, Trojan, and Riskware by at least 23 AntiVirus & AntiMalware scanners
Superfish visual discovery software was preloaded onto Lenovo consumer level notebooks beginning in September 2014. Per the Lenovo News Release: “The goal was to improve the shopping experience using their visual discovery techniques.”
The preinstall of Superfish on consumer level laptops, was terminated by Lenovo in January 2015.
Cybersecurity For Dummies available for legal download, at no charge from cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks
Chinese authorities had arrested a number of individuals and shut down the WireLurker Command and Control Server just ten days after Palo Alto Networks released their findings.
Last weekend we focused on Cybersecurity issues. Many visitors to this site may not be fully versed in Cybersecurity issues. In that vein, I wanted to let you all know that Palo Alto Networks is allowing the legal download of Cybersecurity for Dummies. It discuss APTs (Advanced Persistent Threats) to the Enterprise Network. Old solutions no longer work. A layered approach of new solution is detailed.
Click on this link to view other CyberSecurity related posts found on Uniquely Toronto.
Posted by: Vincent Banial
Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice. Any offers mentioned in this post are also subject to change without notice.
Next Suits and Spooks event to be held in London England on May 06 and 07 2015
Suits and Spooks Events are a bit like TED Talks, but focused on Cyber Security issues. From the Suites and Spooks webpage: “Each event draws thought leaders and decision makers from the public, private, defense, law enforcement and intelligence sectors who come to learn about and discuss some of the key security challenges which face our digitally connected nation and world“
One unique aspect of the presentations made at Suits and Spooks is that after the first 10 minutes, the Audience can join in by asking questions or directly challenging the presenter. Audience participation resulting in Debate and Discussion is the cornerstone of these events.
The next Suits and Spooks Event will be held in London England on May 6th and 7th 2015.
Click on this link to view other CyberSecurity related posts found on Uniquely Toronto.
Posted by: Vincent Banial for Uniquely Toronto
http://www.uniquelytoronto.com
Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice. Any offers mentioned in this post are also subject to change without notice.
Just wanted to say Hello to our visitors from the American NSA agency , Canadian CSIS agency, Russian SVR agency and German BND agency. Sorry if I left out one or two others…
Thanks for dropping by and checking out this past weekend’s Cybersecurity related posts….
Click on this link to view other CyberSecurity related posts found on Uniquely Toronto.
Kaspersky Lab publishes details about the Equation Hacker group’s arsenal, including “nls_933w.dll” which can reprogram the hard drive firmware of over a dozen different hard drive brands
Kaspersky Lab presented at their Security Analysts Summit something even more scary than the details about the Carbanak Bank Cyber Heist. Per Karspersky the Carbanak group ripped off about 100 banks around the globe of about $1 Billion Dollars (and in my opinion very likely still counting).
Kaspersky Lab Experts referred to the Equation group as the “God” or the “Death Star” of Malware. Part of the huge arsenal of code which the Equation group has been developing over what looks like decades is “nls_933w.dll“. “It allows them to reprogram the hard drive firmware of over a dozen different hard drive brands“.
Once “nls_933w.dll“ installs the Malware into the Hard Disk’s firmware, there is no way to remove it. Repartitioning will not affect it. Reformatting has no effect. The only way to get rid of this Malware from the targeted computer, is to physically destroy the Hard Disk.
Kaspersky Lab goes on to report that the Equation group seems to have existed long before the Stuxnet group.
The word “Elite” is part of the lexicon of Hackers. The Equation group therefore can be called the Elite of the Elite of the Elite of the Elite of the Elite and so on of Uber Hackers. To be able to hack and modify a Hard Drive’s firmware is unheard of. To be able to do so for Hard Drives of over a dozen different brands is insanely impossible. Yet the Equation group did it and very likely much more, that has yet to come to light. In comparison, this makes things like the REGIN Malware group’s incredible capabilities seem like no big deal.
Ok, enough of my rambling.
Click on this line to view the Kaspersky Lab report about the Equation group and their arsenal of jaw dropping Malware. On that page you will find a link to a downloadable PDF of the Question and Answer session from their presentation at the Security Analysts Summit.
Wow, this has turned into a CyberSecurity long weekend. Very impressive and rather scary stuff has been revealed by Kaspersky Lab.
Click on this link to view other CyberSecurity related posts found on Uniquely Toronto.
Posted by: Vincent Banial
Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice.
Kaspersky Lab report: The Great Bank Robbery: Carbanak cybergang steals $1 Billion Dollars from 100 financial institutions worldwide
Video is courtesy of the Kaspersky Lab YouTube channel
The Kasperskpy Lab report which was presented at the Security Analyst Summit (on Feb 16 2015) is now available online.
Click on this line to visit the Kaspersky Lab SecureList page which discusses the report : The Great Bank Robbery: Carbanak cybergang steals $1bn from 100 financial institutions worldwide. You can also download a PDF of the “Full” Report via a link on that webpage.
Click on this link to view other CyberSecurity related posts found on Uniquely Toronto.
Posted by: Vincent Banial
Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice.
Hackers supposedly were able to steal up to $1 Billion Dollars from Banks around the globe
This is a further update to our prior post about the breaking news of a major Cyber Bank Heist.
The amount supposedly stolen from assorted banks around the globe is now being published to be around $1 Billion Dollars.
Racks filled with Cisco Networking gear. Photo Credit Vincent Banial
Check to see if your Computer Security and Android Mobile Device Security Software is working and providing a high level of protection?
I just posted to our Uniquely Tech site, about how to check your Computer Security Software. The checks are to Industry Standards.
For those who own an Android Tablet or Smartphone,there are also checks of the Security Protection on said Android devices.
Unfortunately Google prevents me from posting a duplicate post on this site.
Posted by: Vincent Banial
Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice.
WireLurker Malware targeting Apple IOS and OSX products
If you use an Apple IOS or OSX device (phone, tablet, notebook and desktop) you might want to check out my post about WireLurker.
Apple users sometimes are smug about not needing any security software. Yes, Apple products have been highly secure.
As the number of Apple products being purchased keeps growing, Apple products are also becoming targets for those who create Viruses and Malware and other interesting code.
Back in 2012 “Flashback” victimized about 700,000 Macs. WireLurker and future variants of it could have the potential to do the same.
Staying informed can help keep you and your Apple IOS and OSX gear from falling victim to such attacks.
Posted by: Vincent Banial
Disclaimer: Any Trademarks mentioned in this post are owned by the respective Trademark owner. There could be unintentional errors or omissions in this post. Always refer to the official sites to confirm details and any ongoing changes or updates. This post is subject to change without notice.
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